Adverbs

What are adverbs?

Adverbs are words like now, then, today, tomorrow and carefully. An adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Read the following sentences:
Alice smiled sweetly.
Those mangoes were very sweet.
He spoke quite loudly.
In sentence 1, the adverb quickly shows how (or in what manner) Alice smiled. It modifies the verb smiled.
In sentence 2, the adverb very says something about the sweetness of the mangoes. It modifies the adjective sweet.
In sentence 3, quite says something about the manner in which he spoke. It modifies the adverb loudly.
Note that adverbs standing at the beginning of sentences sometimes modify the whole sentence, rather than a particular word.

• Unfortunately no one was present there. (= It was unfortunate that no one was present there.)
• Probably I am mistaken. (= It is probable that I am mistaken.)

Kinds of adverbs
There are very many kinds of adverbs.
Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time answer the question ‘when’. Examples are: today, yesterday, now, before, daily, already, since, ago, never etc.

• I met him yesterday.
• His father died two years ago.
• I have seen him before.
• They have already come.
• We will have to start now.

Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency answer the question ‘how often’. Examples are: often, always, once, never, again, seldom, frequently etc.

• We seldom go out on Sundays.
• I have seen him only once.
• He called again this morning.
• We must always try to do our best.

Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place answer the question ‘where’. Examples are: here, there, up, down, everywhere, out, in etc.

• She sat down.
• He looked up.
• I searched for him everywhere.
• Come in.

Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner answer the question ‘how’ or ‘in what manner’. Note that this class includes nearly all those adverbs ending in -ly. Examples are:
quickly, carefully, sweetly, clearly, bravely, beautifully, well, fast etc.

• The soldiers fought bravely.
• This essay is well written.
• she walked slowly.
• The baby slept soundly.
  Adverbs of degree or quantity
  
  Adverbs of degree answer the question ‘how much’ or ‘in what degree’ or ‘to
  what extent’. Examples are: very, too, fully, quite, rather, enough, any, partly, almost, utterly, as, entirely etc.
  
• That was very tragic.
• I have almost finished.
• He was rather busy.
• Is he any good?
• You are partly right.
• You are entirely wrong.

Adverbs of reason
Adverbs of reason answer the question ‘why?’. Examples are: therefore, hence, consequently etc.

• Consequently he refused to go.
• Therefore they decided to boycott the meeting.
• He is hence unable to refute the charge.

Adverbs of affirmation or negation
Examples are: surely, certainly, not, probably, indeed etc.

• You are certainly right.
• I am not going.
• He is a fool indeed.

Interrogative adverbs
Adverbs which are used for asking questions are called interrogative adverbs.  Examples are: when, where, how, why etc.

• When will you go to New York? (Interrogative adverb of time)
• How long will you stay here? (Interrogative adverb of time)
• Where are my keys? (Interrogative adverb of place)
• How often does the committee meet? (Interrogative adverb of number)
• How did he behave? (Interrogative adverb of manner)
• How far did he go? (Interrogative adverb of quantity)
• Why did you resign? (Interrogative adverb of reason)

Relative adverbs
Read the following sentences:
Do you know the place where the meeting will be held?
In this sentence, where is an adverb as it modifies the verb will be held. Where is also a relative as it connects the two clauses of the sentence and at the same time refers back to its antecedent, place. Where is therefore called a relative adverb. Note that a relative adverb connects an adjective clause to the main clause.

   

Position of adverbs

Adverbs of manner which answer the question ‘how?’ normally comes immediately after the verb or after the object if there is one.

• It is raining heavily.
• She combed her hair gently. (NOT She combed gently her hair.)
• She speaks English well. (NOT She speaks well English.)
• He walked slowly.

Adverbs of place (e.g. here, there, everywhere, nowhere, on the roof etc.) and adverbs of time (now, then, today, tomorrow, next week etc.) are usually placed after the verb or after the object if there is one.

• I saw him yesterday.
• I looked everywhere but couldn’t find anything.
• Hang the picture there.
• They are coming next week.

When two or more adverbs modify the same verb, they usually come in the following order: adverbs of manner, adverbs of place, adverbs of time.

• We will go there tomorrow evening.
• He performed well at the concert last night.

Adverbs of frequency which answer the question ‘how often’ (e.g. always, often, rarely, frequently etc.) and some other adverbs like hardly, almost, nearly, just, quite etc., are normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb consists of only one word. If there is more than one word in the verb, the adverb comes after the first word.

• You never visit us.
• I have always wanted to be a writer.
• I have often told him to mend his ways.
• We usually have breakfast at night.

If the verb is a form of be (is/am/are/was/were) these adverbs are placed after the verb.

• I am never late for office.
• We are just off.

Adverbs are usually placed before the auxiliaries have to and used to.

• He always used to agree with me.
• I often have to wake up early in the morning.

An adverb modifying an adjective or another adverb normally comes before the word it modifies.

• She was quite tired.
• He is a rather lazy boy.
  

Adverbs should be placed next to the word or words they modify.

• He had almost got to the top when the rope broke. (Here the adverb almost modifies the verb got.)

As a general rule, the adverb only should come immediately before the word it modifies.

• I solved only two problems.
• Only John managed to solve the problem.
• Praise them only when the deserve it.

In spoken English, only is usually placed before the verb. The intended meaning is conveyed by stressing the word which only modifies.

• He only solved two problems. (The word two is stressed.)

Two negatives destroy each other. Hence they should not be placed in the same sentence unless our intention is to make an affirmation.

• I haven’t got any money. (NOT I haven’t got no money.)
• I could not find him anywhere. (NOT I could not find him nowhere.)
• Hardly anyone believes in such ghost stories these days. (NOT Hardly no one believes in such ghost stories these days.)

Adjectives can’t be used to modify verbs.

• He ate the cake greedily. (NOT He ate the cake greedy.)
• You will pay dearly (not dear) for this.

Greedy and dear are adjectives. They can’t be used to modify the verbs ate and pay.
Else should be followed by but, not than.

• It is nothing else but prejudice.

Special uses of some adverbs

Very

Very is commonly used before an adjective or another adverb in the positive degree. It means ‘to a great extent’.

• She is very beautiful. (with adjective)
• It is very hot. (with adjective)
• He did it very nicely. (with adverb)
• She is very sweet. (with adjective)
• He wrote the letter very carefully. (with adverb)

Very can be used with a present participle (e.g. running, singing, reading, playing etc.) used as an adjective.

• It was very amusing.

When used with well very shows agreement or assent.

• Very well doctor, I will give up smoking.

Very can be used with a superlative or ‘own’. It means ‘in the highest degree’ or ‘absolutely’.

• She is the very best singer here.
• This tea is of the very best quality.
• Keep this present for your very own. (absolutely for your own use)

Very with much
Very is often used before much.

• Thank you very much.

Much
Much is commonly used before an adjective or adverb in the comparative or superlative degree. Note that very is used with an adjective or adverb in the positive degree.

• She is much taller than her brother.
• This is much better than that.

Much can be used before a past participle in the passive form. Very is used before a present participle.

• I was much surprised to hear the news.
• I am much interested in this program.

Notes:
Very is also used before a few past participles.

• I am very tired.
• They were very pleased to meet us.

Too
Too is used to mean ‘more than is required’.

• You ate too much.
• He is too fat.
• It is too hot to go out.
• He is too weak to move about.
• The news is too good to be true.

Too is often followed by to.

• I was too tired to do any work. (= I was so tired that I could not do any work.)

Too has a negative meaning. It should not be used in the general sense of very.

• She is very beautiful. (NOT She is too beautiful.)

Too has similar meanings to also and as well.

• She is not only beautiful; she is also intelligent.
• She is not only beautiful; she is intelligent as well.
• She is not only beautiful; she is intelligent too.

Enough
Enough shows the ‘proper limit’ or ‘amount’. It is placed after the adjective or adverb it qualifies.

• He is rich enough to buy a car.
• She is old enough to be a grand mother.
• He solved the problem quickly enough to pass the test.

Notes
Enough is the opposite of too.
Compare:

• It is hot enough (= to the degree required) to go swimming. (We can go swimming.)
• It is too hot (= more than required) to go swimming. (We can’t go swimming.)

Yes and No
If the answer is ‘yes’, the following verb must be in the affirmative.
If the answer is ‘no’, the following verb must be in the negative.

• ‘Are you coming?”Yes, I am.’
• ‘Are you coming?’ ‘No, I am not.’
• ‘Is it raining?’ ‘Yes, it is.’
• ‘Is it hot enough?’ ‘No, it isn’t.’
• ‘Did you meet him at the conference?’ ‘Yes, I did.’
• ‘Has he received our letter?’ ‘No, he hasn’t.’
   

Adverb phrases

We have already seen that a group of words called an adjective phrase can serve the same purpose as an adjective. In the same way, an adverb phrase can does the work of an adverb.
Study the following examples.

• He spoke politely. (Here the adverb politely says something about the manner in which he spoke.)
• He spoke in a polite manner. (Here the adverb phrase ‘in a polite manner’ also says how he spoke.)

Thus we have seen that an adverb phrase modifies a verb just like an adverb does.

• It is available now.
• It is available at the moment.

In the pair of sentences given above, the adverb phrase ‘at the moment’ modifies the verb just like the adverb now does.
Definition
An adverb phrase is a group of words that serves the same purpose as an adverb. Like an adverb, an adverb phrase can also modify an adjective or another adverb.
Some adverbs and their equivalent adverb phrases are given below.

• Bravely (adverb) – in a brave manner (adverb phrase)
• Beautifully – in a beautiful manner / way / style
• Formerly – in former times / once upon a time
• Recently – just now or at a recent date
• Soon – before very long
• Here – on this spot
• Everywhere – in all places
• Now – at the moment

Position of Adverbs – Detailed Rules

Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a sentence. Here are
some general rules.
Adverbs cannot go between a verb and its object.

• He speaks English well. (NOT He speaks well English.)
• I often visit my parents. (NOT I visit often my parents.)

An adverb particle (e.g. up, down, off, on etc.) can go between a verb and
its object.

• She switched off the light. OR She switched the light off.

An adverb can go in three positions:
1. At the beginning of a clause
2. With  the verb (mid-position)
3. At the end of the a clause
Many adverbs can go in all three positions. Some adverbs can go in mid- and
end positions. Longer adverb phrases do not usually go in mid-position.
Adverbs that can go at the beginning of a clause
Adverbs which join a clause to what came before usually go at the beginning.
Examples are: however, then, next, besides, anyway etc.

• Some of us wanted to go on a picnic; however, John did not like the idea.
• He finished his work. Then he went home.

Mid-position is also possible in a formal style.

• He then went home.
• He, however, didn’t like the idea.

The adverbs usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can go at the beginning or end of a clause.

• Sometimes I think I should find a better job.
• Often I get headaches.

Adverbs of place can also go at the beginning of a clause, especially in
literary writing.

• At the end of the street there was a toy store.

The adverb too

Too is an adverb. It is used before adjectives without nouns and before adverbs.

• I arrived too late.
• You are too generous.

Too and too much
Too much cannot be used before adverbs and adjectives without nouns.

• She is too fat. (NOT She is too much fat.)

Too with other determiners
Too is not normally used before adjective + noun.

• I could not lift the bag because it was too heavy. (NOT I could not lift the too heavy bag.)
• I could not solve the problem – it was too difficult. (NOT I could not solve the too difficult problem.)

Structures with too
An infinitive can be used after too + adjective / adverb.

• It is too hot to go out.
• He is too old to work.

If the infinitive has its own subject, it is usually introduced by for.

• It is too early for the shops to be open.

Note that object pronouns are not normally used after the infinitive in this structure.

• The tea is too hot to drink. (NOT The tea is too hot to drink it.)

Note that object pronouns can be used in structures with for.

• The tea is too hot for us to drink. OR The tea is too hot for us to drink it.

Too and very
Too is different from very. Too has a negative meaning. It means ‘more than enough’ or ‘more than is wanted’.

• She is very beautiful. (NOT She is too beautiful.)
• He is very intelligent. (NOT He is too intelligent.)

Notes
In informal English, too is sometimes used to mean ‘very’.

• That was too kind of you. (= That was very kind of you.)

Adverb clauses of time and place

An adverb clause serves the purpose of an adverb. There are different kinds of adverb clauses.
Adverb clauses of time
Adverb clauses of time are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like when, whenever, before, after, as, since, till, once and now that.

• Whenever I get an idea for a story, I jot it down in a notebook.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• After the match ended, we left for our homes.
• As the chief guest arrived, we all stood up.
• I will wait until you have finished dressing.
• Sunday is the day when I am least busy.
• Whenever I go to London, I stay with my brother.

Once and now that are sometimes used as conjunctions in adverb clauses of time.

• Once you have made a decision, you must stick to it.
• Now that winter has come, we must buy some woollen clothes.

Adverb clauses of place
Adverb clauses of place are introduced by the conjunctions where and wherever.

• Wherever you go, you will find coca cola.
• Where there is a will, there is a way.
• That is the place where I was born.
• This is the house where I live in.

In informal English, everywhere is sometimes used instead of wherever.

• Everywhere we went, people greeted us warmly. (= Wherever we went, people greeted us warmly.)

Adjectives or adverbs? confusing cases

Adjectives ending in -ly

Most adverbs end in -ly. There are also some adjectives ending in -ly. Examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly etc.

• She is a lovely girl. (Here lovely is an adjective. It modifies the noun girl.)
• I love his friendly nature. (Here the adjective friendly modifies the noun nature.)

There are no adverbs friendly / friendlily, lovely / lovelily etc.
Some words can be used both as adjectives and as adverbs. Examples are: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early, leisurely etc.

• We should catch an early train. (Here early is an adjective. It modifies the noun train.)
• I got up early. (Here early is an adverb. It modifies the verb got up.)

Adjectives and adverbs with the same form
Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. Examples are: fast and hard.

• A fast car goes fast.
• If you do hard work, you work hard.

In some cases, the adverb may have two forms: one like the adjective and the other ending in -ly. There is usually a difference of meaning or use.
Examples are: dead and deadly, fine and finely, free and freely, hard and hardly etc.
The adverb dead is used in some expressions to mean ‘exactly’ or ‘very’.

• He was dead drunk.

Note that deadly is an adjective meaning ‘fatal’. The adverb for this meaning is fatally.

• She was fatally injured in the accident. (NOT She was deadly injured in the accident.)

Fine and finely

The adverb fine means ‘well’. It is used in some informal expressions.

• She is doing fine.

The adverb finely is used to talk about small careful adjustments.

• finely ground particles
• a finely tuned machine

Free and freely
The adverb free means ‘without payment’. The adverb freely means ‘without restriction’.

• Buy two shirts and get one free.
• Speak freely. (= Speak without fear or inhibition.)

Hard and hardly
The adverb hard has a similar meaning to the adjective hard.

• He works hard.
• Hit it hard.

Hardly has a negative meaning. It means ‘almost not’.

• We have got hardly any rice left.

High and highly
High is used to talk about height. Highly often means ‘very much’.

• He threw it as high as he could.
• It is highly amusing.

Late and lately
The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late. Lately means ‘recently’.

• He arrived late.
• Have you read anything interesting lately?

Most and mostly
Most is the superlative form of much.

• This is the most interesting film I have ever seen.

Most can mean ‘very’ in a very formal style.

• It is a most interesting novel. (= It is a very interesting novel.)

Mostly means ‘mainly’.

• My friends are mostly vegetarians.

Real and really
In informal American English, real is often used instead of really.

• She sings real well. (= She sings really well.)

Adverb clauses

Study the following sentences.

• They started in the morning. (Started when? – in the morning)
• They started before the sun rose. (started when? – before the sun rose)

It is clear that in sentence 1 and sentence 2 the groups of words in italics do the work of an adverb as they modify the verb started, showing when the action was performed.
Here the group of words ‘in the morning’ is an adverb phrase. It does not have a subject or a predicate of its own. It makes sense, but not complete sense.
Now consider the group of words ‘before the sun rose’. It has a subject and a predicate of its own. Still, it is not a complete sentence. In fact, it is part of a large sentence.
Such a group of words which forms part of a sentence, and has a subject and a predicate of its own is called a clause.
Since the clause ‘before the sun rose’ does the work of an adverb it is called an adverb clause.
More examples are given below.

• Start when you are ready. (Adverb clause – when you are ready)
• Will you wait till I return? (Adverb clause – till I return)
• If you make a promise, you must keep it. (Adverb clause – if you make a promise)
• I shall remain where I am. (Adverb clause – where I am)
• Just as he entered the room the clock struck twelve. (Adverb clause – just as he entered the room)
• He finished first though he started late. (Adverb clause – though he started late)

Adverb clauses of purpose

Adverb clauses of purpose are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, so that, in order that and lest.

• We eat that we may live.
• He works hard so that he will become a millionaire.
• Put on your warm clothes lest you should catch a chill.
• Schools were closed early in order that students might reach home before the thunderstorm.

Notes

In an informal style, so that is more common than in order that.
These expressions are usually followed by modal auxiliary verbs such as will, can or may.

• She wants to study in England so that she can perfect her English.
• We are starting now so that we will reach there before sunset.

In an informal style that can be dropped after so; this is very common in American English.

• I have come early so that I can meet you. OR I have come early so I can meet you.

Lest means that…not, and, therefore, it will be wrong to add another not in the following clause. Moreover it should be noted that the only auxiliary verb that can be used after lest is should.

• Reserve your tickets early lest you miss the chance. OR Reserve your tickets early lest you should miss the chance. (NOT Reserve your tickets early lest you do not miss the chance.)

Adverb clauses of cause or reason

Adverb clauses of cause or reason are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions because, as, since and that.

• I sing because I like singing.
• He thinks he can get anything because he is rich.
• Since he has apologized we will take no further action against him.
• As he was not there I left a message with his mother.
• I am glad that you have come.
• My parents were disappointed that I didn’t get the scholarship.
• He was furious that his book was panned by most reviewers.

Notes
The conjunction that is often omitted.

• I am glad you like it. OR I am glad that you like it.
• They were disappointed you weren’t in. OR They were disappointed that you weren’t in.

As and since are used when the reason is already known to the listener.

• As it is raining again we will have to cancel the match.

As and since-clauses are relatively formal. In an informal style, the same idea can be expressed with so.

• It is raining again, so we will have to cancel the match.

Because-clauses are used to give information which isn’t already known to the reader or listener.

• Because he had not paid the bill, his electricity was cut off.

Note that a because-clause can stand alone. As and since-clauses cannot be used like this.

• ‘Why are you looking at her like that?’ ‘Because she smiled at me.’ (NOT As she smiled at me.) (NOT Since she smiled at me.)
  

Adverb clauses of condition

Adverb clauses of condition are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions if, whether, provided that, so long as and unless.

• If I like it, I will buy it.
• If you heat ice, it melts.
• If it rains, we will stay at home.
• You may come, if you want to.
• You won’t pass unless you work hard.
• You will be shot unless you give me the keys of the locker.
• There will be no problem provided that you keep your mouth shut.
• You will have to take the medicine whether you like it or not.

You may have noticed that the adverb clause of condition gives the circumstances under which the action in the main clause will take place.
Omission of if
Sometimes the conjunction if is omitted.

• Were the child mine, I would have taken it to a doctor. (= If the child were mine, I would have taken it to a doctor.)
• Should you meet my brother, tell him that I have gone to the railway station. (= If you meet my brother, tell him that I have gone to the railway station.)

Clauses of condition are sometimes introduced by a relative pronoun, or adjective or adverb.

• Whatever happens keep calm.
• However cleverly you may cheat, you will ultimately get caught.

Adverb clauses of result and concession

Adverb clauses of result or consequence are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, so…that, so that and such…that.

• The famine was so severe that thousands perished.
• They fought so bravely that the enemy fled.
• He is such a good man that all respect him.
• He spoke in such a low voice that few people could hear him.

That is often omitted.

• She was so weak that she could hardly stand. OR She was so weak she could hardly stand.
• It was so hot we didn’t go out. OR It was so hot that we didn’t go out.

Adverb clauses of concession
Adverb clauses of concession are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions though, although, even though, while, whereas and even if.

• Though I am poor I am honest.
• I will be able to get in although I have no ticket.
• Even if it rains I will come.
• The men managed to survive even though they were three days without water.
• John is very popular among his friends, whereas his brother is a reclusive.

As is sometimes used in the sense of though.

• Young as he is he occupies an important position in the firm. (= Though he is young, he occupies an important position in the firm.)

Adverb clauses of degree or comparison

Adverb clauses of degree or comparison answer the question how much, how little or how many. The chief conjunctions used to introduce adverb clauses of degree are as, as…as, so…as and than.

• She is older than her husband.
• She is as intelligent as she is beautiful.
• You are later than I expected.
• She is as pretty as a doll.
• She is not so intelligent as her sister.

The correlative the…the may also be considered as a conjunction introducing adverb clauses of degree.

• The older you grow the wiser you become.
• The more he earns the more he spends.

Notes
In adverb clauses of degree or comparison, the verb is often understood and not expressed.

• I earn as much as you (do).
• I can sing as well as he (does).
• She is as tall as he (is).
• Nobody knows her better than I (do).

Note that when the verb is not expressed it is more common to use object pronouns after as and than.
Compare:

• I can sing as well as him. OR I can sing as well as he does. (More natural than ‘I can sing as well as he’.)
• Nobody knows her better than me. OR Nobody knows her better than I do. (More natural than ‘Nobody knows her better than I.)
  

Position of adverbs of certainty and place

We use adverbs of certainty to say how sure we are of something. Examples are: certainly, definitely, clearly, obviously and probably.
Adverbs of certainty usually go in mid-position.
Study the following patterns.
Auxiliary verb + adverb

• She will probably come.
• The train has obviously been delayed.

Am / are / is / was / were + adverb

• She is certainly right.
• There is clearly something wrong.

Adverb + other verb
He probably thinks that he is the smartest. (NOT He thinks probably that …)

• I certainly feel better today.

Grammar notes
Maybe and perhaps usually come at the beginning of a clause.

• Maybe you are right.
• Perhaps he will come.

Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place say where something happens. Examples are: upstairs, around, here, in London, out of the window
Adverbs of place usually go at the end of a clause.

• The children are playing in the garden.
• Don’t throw things out of the window.
• The old man sat in the corner.
• There was a very tall tree at the end of the garden.

Initial position is also possible. This usually happens in a literary style.

• At the end of the garden there was a very tall tree.

Position of adverbs: difference between British and American English

Mid-position adverbs usually go after auxiliary verbs, after am / are / is / was / were and before other verbs.

• She has never written to me.
• The discussion was mainly about politics.

When there are two or more auxiliary verbs, the adverb usually goes after the first.

• You have definitely been working hard.

In American English, mid-position adverbs are often put before auxiliary verbs and am / are / is / was / were, even when the verb is not emphasized.

• You certainly have made him angry. (US)
• You have certainly made him angry. (GB)
• You are always late. (GB)
• You always are late. (US)
• America has long been known as a land of opportunities. (GB)
• America long has been known as a land of opportunities. (US)

In British English, mid-position adverbs can go before auxiliary verbs and am / are / is / was / were when we want to emphasize the auxiliary verbs.

• I am really sorry. (No emphasis on am.)
• I really AM sorry. (Emphasis on AM)

In negative sentences, mid-position adverbs generally come before not if they emphasize the negative.
Compare:

• I really don’t like her. (Strong dislike)
• I don’t really like her. (Mild dislike)

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This source is from http://www.englishgrammar.org/category/adverbs/